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A2 adjective 9 min read

凉飕飕

liáng sōu sōu

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips 凉飕飕 in 30 Seconds

Explanation 凉飕飕 in your Level:

At the A1 level, you only need to know that '凉' (liáng) means cool. '凉飕飕' is a bit advanced, but you can think of it as 'very cool' or 'cold wind'. It's like when you open a fridge and feel the cold air on your face. In A1, we focus on basic needs, so you might use this to tell a teacher 'I am cold' (我冷) or 'The wind is chilly' (风凉飕飕的). It's helpful to recognize the 'ABB' pattern where the last two sounds are the same. This makes the word sound more like a 'feeling' than just a fact. Just remember: '凉' is the main part, and '飕飕' is the sound of the wind.

For A2 learners, '凉飕飕' is a great word to describe weather and physical feelings. You are moving beyond simple adjectives like '冷' (cold) or '热' (hot). When you go outside in October and feel a bit of a shiver, that is '凉飕飕'. You should practice using it with the particle '的' at the end: '凉飕飕的'. This word is often used for body parts, like '我的脖子凉飕飕的' (My neck is chilly). It's also important to know that it's usually not a 'good' cold. If you like the cold, you should use '凉快' instead. This distinction helps you express your feelings more accurately.

At the B1 level, you should start using '凉飕飕' to describe atmospheres and emotions, not just the weather. If you enter a room where everyone is arguing and suddenly stops, the atmosphere might feel '凉飕飕'. This shows you understand the metaphorical use of the word. You can also use it to describe the 'creepy' feeling of a ghost story or a scary movie. At this level, you should notice that '凉飕飕' doesn't usually need '很' (very) because the word itself is already quite strong. Try to use it in your writing to make your descriptions more vivid and 'native-sounding'.

By B2, you should be comfortable with the 'ABB' structure of adjectives. '凉飕飕' is part of a family of words like '暖洋洋' (warm) or '热腾腾' (steaming hot). You should be able to explain the difference between '凉飕飕' and '阴冷'. While '阴冷' is a gloomy, damp cold (often weather), '凉飕飕' is more about the sensation of air movement or a sudden drop in temperature. You might encounter this word in modern Chinese literature (like Lu Xun or Lao She) to describe the social climate or a character's internal state of fear or disappointment. Using it correctly in an essay about environment or feelings will impress your readers.

At the C1 level, you should appreciate the phonetic beauty of '凉飕飕'. The 's' sound in 'sōu' mimics the sound of wind. You should be able to use it in sophisticated contexts, such as describing a 'chilling effect' in a political or social sense, or the 'piercing' quality of a satirical remark. For example, '他的话语里带着凉飕飕的讽刺' (His words carried a chilly irony). You should also understand how it contrasts with other literary terms like '凛冽' (lǐnliè - piercingly cold) which is more formal and poetic. '凉飕飕' remains more grounded in sensory perception and psychological unease.

For C2 mastery, '凉飕飕' is used to analyze the nuance of tone in classical and modern texts. You should understand its role in creating 'suspense' or 'pathos'. In a C2 context, you might discuss how the reduplication '飕飕' functions as an onomatopoeia that enhances the reader's immersion. You can use it to describe the 'coldness' of a historical period or the 'shivering' reality of a character's isolation. At this level, your usage should be indistinguishable from a native speaker, using it to evoke specific physical and emotional responses in your audience, whether through creative writing or high-level academic discussion.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

凉飕飕 in 30 Seconds

A vivid ABB adjective meaning 'chilly' or 'creepy-cold'.
Used for uncomfortably cool weather, drafts, or scary feelings.
Differs from '凉快' (pleasant cool) by being negative or eerie.
Commonly used with '的' (de) as a predicate or modifier.

The Chinese adjective 凉飕飕 (liáng sōu sōu) is a vivid, descriptive term that transcends a simple temperature reading. In the landscape of Chinese adjectives, it follows the ABB pattern, where the first character provides the core meaning (cold/cool) and the reduplicated suffix adds a sensory, often evocative, texture. To an English speaker, 'chilly' is the closest equivalent, but 'chilly' often lacks the specific 'piercing' or 'whispering' quality that the characters '飕飕' imply. The character '飕' itself contains the 'wind' radical (风), suggesting a movement of air that steals heat from the skin. When you use this word, you aren't just saying it is cold; you are describing a physical sensation where the cold seems to creep up on you or penetrate your clothing in an uncomfortable way.

Physical Sensation: This is the primary usage. Imagine a late autumn evening when the sun has set, and a sudden draft enters a room. The air isn't freezing like ice, but it has a bite that makes you shiver and reach for a sweater. It is specifically used for that 'drafty' cold.
Psychological Chill: Beyond the weather, it describes the feeling of fear or unease. If you are walking down a dark alley and feel like someone is watching you, your neck might feel '凉飕飕'. It is the physical manifestation of a 'creepy' feeling.
Emotional Disappointment: In a metaphorical sense, it can describe a feeling of being 'left out in the cold' emotionally. When a close friend ignores you or a boss gives a cold response to your hard work, your heart might feel '凉飕飕的' (liáng sōu sōu de), indicating a loss of warmth or hope.

秋风吹来，身上感觉凉飕飕的。(Qiūfēng chuī lái, shēnshang gǎnjué liángsōusōu de.) - When the autumn wind blows, my body feels chilly.

听了这个鬼故事，我后背凉飕飕的。(Tīngle zhège guǐ gùshì, wǒ hòubèi liángsōusōu de.) - After listening to this ghost story, my back feels chilly (creepy).

空调开得太大了，办公室里凉飕飕的。(Kòngtiáo kāi de tài dàle, bàngōngshì lǐ liángsōusōu de.) - The air conditioning is on too high; the office is chilly.

他那冷淡的眼神让我心里凉飕飕的。(Tā nà lěngdàn de yǎnshén ràng wǒ xīnlǐ liángsōusōu de.) - His cold gaze made my heart feel chilly (disheartened).

这间旧屋子总让人觉得脚底下凉飕飕的。(Zhè jiān jiù wūzi zǒng ràng rén juédé jiǎodǐxià liángsōusōu de.) - This old house always makes the soles of your feet feel chilly.

In summary, use '凉飕飕' when you want to emphasize the 'unpleasant' or 'eerie' nature of a cold sensation. It captures the essence of a wind that cuts through, a room that lacks warmth, or a feeling that makes your skin crawl. It is a word of sensory experience, not just data.

Grammatically, 凉飕飕 functions as an adjective. Because it follows the ABB pattern, it is most frequently followed by the particle 的 (de) when it serves as a predicate or an attribute. This 'de' softens the adjective and makes it sound more natural and descriptive in daily conversation. Understanding where to place it in a sentence is key to sounding like a native speaker.

As a Predicate: You can use it directly after a subject to describe the state of an environment or a body part. Structure: [Subject] + [凉飕飕的]. For example, '我的手凉飕飕的' (My hands are chilly).
With '感觉' (Gǎnjué): It is very common to pair this word with verbs of feeling. Structure: [Subject] + [感觉/觉得] + [凉飕飕的]. This emphasizes the subjective experience of the speaker.
As an Attribute: It can describe a noun directly. Structure: [凉飕飕的] + [Noun]. For example, '凉飕飕的小雨' (A chilly light rain). This is less common than its use as a predicate but very effective in storytelling.

窗户没关严，屋里凉飕飕的。(Chuānghu méi guān yán, wū lǐ liángsōusōu de.) - The window isn't closed tightly; it's chilly in the room.

一阵凉飕飕的风吹过，树叶纷纷落下。(Yīzhèn liángsōusōu de fēng chuīguò, shùyè fēnfēn luòxià.) - A chilly wind blew past, and leaves fell one after another.

他说话的语气凉飕飕的，让人很不舒服。(Tā shuōhuà de yǔqì liángsōusōu de, ràng rén hěn bù shūfú.) - His tone of voice was chilly, making people very uncomfortable.

When using this word, consider the 'direction' of the cold. Is it external (the wind) or internal (a feeling in the heart)? If it's internal, you almost always need to specify the location, such as '心里' (xīnlǐ - in the heart) or '背上' (bèishàng - on the back). This specificity helps the listener understand if you are complaining about the weather or expressing a deeper emotional state.

In daily life in China, 凉飕飕 is a staple of weather-related complaints and narrative storytelling. You will hear it in various settings, ranging from the mundane to the dramatic. Its frequency is high in both spoken dialects and modern literature, making it a versatile tool for any learner.

Seasonal Transitions: During the 'Hanlu' (Cold Dew) or 'Shuangjiang' (Frost Descent) solar terms in the Chinese calendar, people often use this word to describe the changing air. It's the word of choice for that first morning when you realize summer is truly over.
Horror and Mystery: In movies, novels, or when telling a scary story around a campfire, '凉飕飕' is used to build atmosphere. It describes the 'killing intent' (shāqì) or the presence of something supernatural. A ghost doesn't just make a room 'cold'; it makes it '凉飕飕'.
Workplace and Social Dynamics: If a meeting goes poorly and the boss is visibly angry but silent, an employee might describe the atmosphere as '凉飕飕'. It suggests a tension that makes one's skin prickle.

走出电影院，外面的风吹得我脖子凉飕飕的。(Zǒuchū diànyǐngyuàn, wàimiàn de fēng chuī de wǒ bózi liángsōusōu de.) - Walking out of the cinema, the wind outside made my neck feel chilly.

看到那段监控录像，我心里直发凉飕飕。(Kàn dào nà duàn jiānkòng lùxiàng, wǒ xīnlǐ zhí fā liángsōusōu.) - Seeing that surveillance footage, I felt a continuous chill in my heart.

Whether you are reading a Wuxia novel where a sword's edge is described as '凉飕飕' or just chatting with a neighbor about the drafty hallway, this word is essential for expressing the nuance of discomfort. It is more than a temperature; it's a mood.

For English speakers, the most common pitfall when using 凉飕飕 is failing to distinguish between 'pleasant' and 'unpleasant' cold. In English, 'cool' is often a compliment (e.g., 'a cool breeze'), but in Chinese, the word choice dictates the emotion. If you make a mistake here, you might accidentally tell someone you are unhappy when you are actually enjoying the weather.

Mistake 1: Confusing with 凉快 (Liángkuai): '凉快' is positive. You use it after a long hike when you find a shade. '凉飕飕' is negative. If you say '这树下凉飕飕的', people might think the tree is haunted or the wind is too biting.
Mistake 2: Overusing degree adverbs: Saying '很凉飕飕' (Hěn liángsōusōu) sounds redundant to native ears. The ABB pattern already conveys the 'very' or 'quite' aspect. Instead, just use '凉飕飕的'.
Mistake 3: Using it for 'Ice Cold': If something is freezing like ice, use '冰冷' (bīnglěng). '凉飕飕' is for air, drafts, or feelings, not for the physical temperature of a block of ice or a cold drink.

Wrong: 今天天气凉飕飕的，真舒服！(Incorrect because 'shūfú' is pleasant).
Right: 今天天气凉快，真舒服！

Wrong: 我的冰水凉飕飕的。(Incorrect because water isn't 'drafty').
Right: 我的冰水冰凉冰凉的。

By paying attention to the 'connotation' of the word, you will avoid these common errors. Remember that Chinese is a language of nuance, and ABB adjectives like this one are designed to convey a specific 'feeling' rather than just a 'fact'.

To truly master 凉飕飕, you must see where it sits among its 'cold' cousins. Chinese has a vast vocabulary for temperature, each with its own specific use case. Comparing these will help you choose the most precise word for your situation.

凉快 (Liángkuai) vs. 凉飕飕: 凉快 is pleasant, refreshing, and desirable. 凉飕飕 is unpleasant, biting, or eerie. Use 凉快 for air conditioning in summer; use 凉飕飕 for air conditioning that is so cold it makes you sick.
阴冷 (Yīnlěng) vs. 凉飕飕: 阴冷 refers to a gloomy, damp cold, often associated with overcast weather or basements. 凉飕飕 emphasizes the 'breeze' or the 'suddenness' of the chill. 阴冷 is a state; 凉飕飕 is a sensation.
寒冷 (Hánlěng) vs. 凉飕飕: 寒冷 is a formal word for 'very cold' or 'frigid'. It is objective. 凉飕飕 is more subjective and descriptive. You see '寒冷' in weather reports; you hear '凉飕飕' in conversations.

Comparison:
1. 这里的空气很凉快。(Refreshing)
2. 这里的空气凉飕飕的。(Chilly/Creepy)

Choosing the right synonym depends on whether you are describing the weather, a physical object, or a person's behavior. '凉飕飕' remains the champion for that specific 'drafty' or 'psychologically unsettling' cold that makes you want to pull your collar up.

How Formal Is It?

Fun Fact

The ABB pattern used here is a hallmark of Southern Chinese dialects that influenced standard Mandarin, used to make speech more 'image-rich' (形象化).

Pronunciation Guide

UK /liɑ́ŋ sōʊ sōʊ/

US /ljɑŋ soʊ soʊ/

Primary stress on the first syllable 'Liáng', with 'sōu sōu' pronounced evenly.

Rhymes With

凉悠悠 (liáng yōu yōu) 乐悠悠 (lè yōu yōu) 亮晶晶 (liàng jīng jīng) 静悄悄 (jìng qiāo qiāo) 香喷喷 (xiāng pēn pēn) 乱哄哄 (luàn hōng hōng) 红彤彤 (hóng tóng tóng) 黑漆漆 (hēi qī qī)

Common Errors

Pronouncing 'sōu' as 'shōu' (adding an 'h').
Failing to keep the high level tone for both 'sōu' syllables.
Confusing the rising tone of 'liáng' with a falling tone.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 3/5

Recognizing the ABB pattern is easy, but the character '飕' is less common.

Writing 4/5

Writing '飕' requires attention to the wind radical and the internal components.

Speaking 2/5

The tones are straightforward and the reduplication is fun to say.

Listening 2/5

The 'sōu sōu' sound is very distinctive and easy to pick out.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

凉风冷感觉的

Learn Next

暖洋洋热腾腾阴冷寒冷凉快

Advanced

凛冽凄清萧瑟寒颤毛骨悚然

Grammar to Know

ABB Adjective Reduplication

Words like 凉飕飕 follow the pattern where the suffix is doubled for vividness.

The particle '的' with ABB adjectives

Usually, we say '凉飕飕的' when it's at the end of a sentence.

Adjectives as predicates

In '我感觉凉飕飕', the adjective acts as the predicate.

Adjectives as attributes

In '凉飕飕的风', the adjective modifies the noun '风'.

Omission of degree adverbs

We don't say '非常凉飕飕' because the ABB form is already intense.

Examples by Level

风凉飕飕的。

The wind is chilly.

Simple subject + ABB adjective + 的.

水凉飕飕的。

The water is chilly.

Describing a physical sensation.

这里凉飕飕的。

It's chilly here.

Using '这里' as a subject.

手凉飕飕的。

The hands are chilly.

Describing a body part.

天凉飕飕的。

The weather is chilly.

General weather description.

我感觉凉飕飕的。

I feel chilly.

Subject + 感觉 + Adjective.

门外凉飕飕的。

It's chilly outside the door.

Location subject.

脖子凉飕飕的。

The neck is chilly.

Specific body part.

秋天的早晨凉飕飕的。

Autumn mornings are chilly.

Time + Subject + Adjective.

没穿外套，感觉凉飕飕的。

Not wearing a coat, I feel chilly.

Result of an action.

屋子里怎么凉飕飕的？

Why is it so chilly in the room?

Question form.

洗完澡，身上凉飕飕的。

After a shower, the body feels chilly.

Temporal clause + feeling.

空调开得太低，凉飕飕的。

The AC is too low, it's chilly.

Cause and effect.

一阵凉飕飕的风吹过。

A chilly wind blew past.

As an attribute before a noun.

下雨了，外面凉飕飕的。

It's raining; it's chilly outside.

Contextual description.

他的手摸起来凉飕飕的。

His hand feels chilly to the touch.

Verb '摸起来' (feels like).

听了那个故事，我后背凉飕飕的。

After hearing that story, my back felt chilly.

Psychological chill.

这间老房子总让人觉得凉飕飕的。

This old house always makes people feel chilly.

Ambience description.

他那冷淡的态度让我心里凉飕飕的。

His cold attitude made my heart feel chilly.

Metaphorical emotional chill.

山上的空气凉飕飕的，还有点湿。

The mountain air is chilly and a bit damp.

Adding secondary adjectives.

走在深夜的街道上，感觉凉飕飕的。

Walking on the streets late at night, it feels chilly.

Loneliness and cold combined.

这阵风吹得人心里凉飕飕的。

This wind makes one's heart feel chilly.

Emotional impact of weather.

办公室里冷清清、凉飕飕的。

The office is deserted and chilly.

Combining two ABB adjectives.

这种天气出门，脖子里凉飕飕的。

Going out in this weather, your neck feels chilly.

Specific sensory detail.

那股凉飕飕的劲儿直往骨缝里钻。

That chilly feeling is drilling into the marrow of my bones.

Vivid metaphorical verb '钻' (drill).

电影里的背景音乐听得人脊梁骨凉飕飕的。

The background music in the movie makes one's spine feel chilly.

Detailed psychological effect.

在这种凉飕飕的季节，最适合喝碗热汤。

In this chilly season, it's best to have a bowl of hot soup.

Setting a scene.

他眼中闪过一丝凉飕飕的寒光。

A chilly cold light flashed in his eyes.

Describing a look/expression.

这种凉飕飕的讽刺让人难以接受。

This kind of chilly irony is hard to accept.

Abstract noun modification.

窗外小雨淅沥，屋内凉飕飕的。

The light rain patters outside; it's chilly inside.

Parallel structure.

他觉得脚底下凉飕飕的，仿佛有阴风吹过。

He felt a chill under his feet, as if a sinister wind were blowing.

Supernatural context.

这封信的内容让我看得心里凉飕飕的。

The content of this letter made my heart feel chilly as I read it.

Reaction to information.

这股凉飕飕的秋意，预示着严冬的到来。

This chilly autumn vibe portends the arrival of a harsh winter.

Literary personification of '秋意'.

在那座废弃的工厂里，总有一种凉飕飕的感觉挥之不去。

In that abandoned factory, a chilly feeling always lingers.

Describing a persistent mood.

他的笑声凉飕飕的，听不出一点喜悦。

His laughter was chilly, without a hint of joy.

Describing sound/atmosphere.

市场上这种凉飕飕的气氛，让投资者感到不安。

The chilly atmosphere in the market makes investors feel uneasy.

Economic context.

她感觉到一种凉飕飕的孤独感包围了自己。

She felt a chilly sense of loneliness surrounding her.

Abstract emotional landscape.

这篇评论文章笔调凉飕飕的，充满了批判性。

The tone of this review article is chilly and full of criticism.

Describing writing style.

他打了个冷战，只觉浑身凉飕飕的。

He shuddered, feeling chilly all over.

Physical reaction '打冷战'.

那阵凉飕飕的穿堂风把桌上的纸都吹散了。

That chilly draft through the hall blew the papers off the table.

Specific term '穿堂风' (hallway draft).

这种凉飕飕的静寂，比喧闹更让人心惊胆战。

This chilly silence is more terrifying than noise.

Philosophical comparison.

笔尖流淌出的文字，带着一种凉飕飕的悲剧色彩。

The words flowing from the pen carry a chilly tragic color.

Metaphorical literary analysis.

在权力的巅峰，他感到的只有高处不胜寒的凉飕飕。

At the pinnacle of power, he felt only the chill of being alone at the top.

Allusion to '高处不胜寒'.

那股凉飕飕的杀气，让在场的所有人都屏住了呼吸。

That chilly killing intent made everyone present hold their breath.

Wuxia/Action genre nuance.

岁月如凉飕飕的流水，在不经意间带走了青春。

Time is like chilly flowing water, taking away youth unnoticed.

Simile for time.

这种凉飕飕的文明隔阂，是难以通过简单的沟通消除的。

This chilly cultural divide is difficult to eliminate through simple communication.

Sociopolitical abstraction.

他那凉飕飕的眼神里，藏着深不可测的城府。

In his chilly eyes lay an unfathomable depth of calculation.

Character analysis.

整座城市笼罩在一种凉飕飕的、末世般的阴影中。

The entire city was shrouded in a chilly, apocalyptic shadow.

Atmospheric world-building.

Common Collocations

凉飕飕的风

心里凉飕飕

后背凉飕飕

脚底凉飕飕

感觉凉飕飕

凉飕飕的小雨

脖子凉飕飕

空气凉飕飕

凉飕飕的语气

凉飕飕的秋意

Common Phrases

浑身凉飕飕

— Feeling chilly all over the body.

感冒以后，我觉得浑身凉飕飕的。

脊梁骨凉飕飕

— A chill down one's spine (fear).

看到那个鬼屋，我脊梁骨凉飕飕的。

直发凉飕飕

— To feel a continuous or sudden chill.

心里直发凉飕飕。

凉飕飕地吹

— Blowing chillily (referring to wind).

北风凉飕飕地吹着。

凉飕飕的冷气

— Chilly air conditioning/cold air.

商场里的凉飕飕的冷气让人发抖。

手脚凉飕飕

— Cold hands and feet.

他冬天总是手脚凉飕飕的。

头皮凉飕飕

— Tingling chill on the scalp (fear or wind).

剪了短发，感觉头皮凉飕飕的。

凉飕飕的笑

— A chilly/sinister laugh.

他露出了一个凉飕飕的笑。

凉飕飕的清晨

— A chilly early morning.

在凉飕飕的清晨去跑步。

凉飕飕的目光

— A chilly/unfriendly gaze.

他那凉飕飕的目光让人害怕。

Often Confused With

凉飕飕 vs 凉快 (liángkuai)

Liángkuai is positive (pleasant cool), while liángsōusōu is negative/unpleasant.

凉飕飕 vs 冷 (lěng)

Lěng is a general word for cold; liángsōusōu is more descriptive of a 'chilly breeze' or 'creepy' feeling.

凉飕飕 vs 冰冷 (bīnglěng)

Bīnglěng means ice-cold and is usually applied to objects or very harsh temperatures, not drafts.

Idioms & Expressions

"风声飕飕"

— The sound of wind blowing hard.

窗外风声飕飕，下起了大雪。

Literary

"背脊发凉"

— A chill down the spine (closely related in meaning).

想到那件事，我不禁背脊发凉。

Common

"不寒而栗"

— To shiver without being cold (shiver from fear).

那个罪犯的手段让人不寒而栗。

Formal

"心灰意冷"

— To be disheartened (emotional coldness).

由于多次失败，他已经心灰意冷了。

Common

"冷言冷语"

— Sarcastic or mocking remarks.

不要对他冷言冷语。

Common

"冰天雪地"

— A world of ice and snow.

在冰天雪地里行走很困难。

Common

"滴水成冰"

— So cold that dripping water turns to ice.

北方冬天的早晨真是滴水成冰。

Common

"寒气逼人"

— Biting cold that is overwhelming.

这间地下室寒气逼人。

Common

"缩头缩脑"

— To recoil from cold or fear.

他在寒风中缩头缩脑地走着。

Informal

"天寒地冻"

— The sky is cold and the ground is frozen.

在天寒地冻的日子里，大家都不想出门。

Common

Easily Confused

凉飕飕 vs 阴冷

Both describe unpleasant cold.

阴冷 is about gloom and dampness; 凉飕飕 is about a chilly breeze or sudden sensation.

地下室很阴冷，但窗缝里吹进来的风凉飕飕的。

凉飕飕 vs 寒冷

Both mean cold.

寒冷 is formal and objective; 凉飕飕 is subjective and descriptive.

冬天的气候很寒冷，早晨走在街上感觉凉飕飕的。

凉飕飕 vs 清凉

Both mean cool.

清凉 is poetic and positive; 凉飕飕 is uncomfortably chilly.

清凉的泉水让人舒服，但凉飕飕的秋风让人感冒。

凉飕飕 vs 凉爽

Both mean cool.

凉爽 is always pleasant; 凉飕飕 is usually unpleasant.

公园里很凉爽，但到了晚上就凉飕飕的了。

凉飕飕 vs 冷清

Both start with a similar sound concept.

冷清 refers to a place being deserted/lonely; 凉飕飕 refers to the temperature sensation.

这条街很冷清，风吹过来凉飕飕的。

Sentence Patterns

Subject + 凉飕飕的。

风凉飕飕的。

Subject + 感觉 + 凉飕飕的。

我感觉凉飕飕的。

Subject + [Body Part] + 凉飕飕的。

他后背凉飕飕的。

一阵 + 凉飕飕的 + Noun + Verb...

一阵凉飕飕的风吹过。

Subject + 语气/眼神 + 凉飕飕的。

他的语气凉飕飕的。

Noun + 带着一种 + 凉飕飕的 + Noun。

文字带着一种凉飕飕的悲剧色彩。

心里 + 直发 + 凉飕飕。

我心里直发凉飕飕。

空调 + 吹得 + 凉飕飕的。

空调吹得屋里凉飕飕的。

Word Family

Nouns

凉气 (liángqì - cool air)

凉意 (liángyì - chilliness/feeling of autumn)

Verbs

凉 (liáng - to cool down)

受凉 (shòuliáng - to catch a cold)

Adjectives

凉 (liáng - cool)

凉快 (liángkuai - pleasantly cool)

凉爽 (liángshuǎng - cool and refreshing)

飕 (sōu - sound of wind)

冷 (lěng - cold)

寒 (hán - frigid)

冰 (bīng - ice)

冻 (dòng - freeze)

How to Use It

frequency

High in spoken language and descriptive literature.

Common Mistakes

Using '凉飕飕' for a refreshing breeze. → 凉快 (liángkuai)
If you are happy about the cool air, use '凉快'. '凉飕飕' implies discomfort.
Saying '很凉飕飕'. → 凉飕飕的
ABB adjectives usually don't need '很' because they already imply a high degree of description.
Using it for a cold object like an ice cube. → 冰凉 (bīngliáng)
'凉飕飕' is for air or feelings, not for the physical temperature of solid objects.
Pronouncing it 'liáng shōu shōu'. → liáng sōu sōu
The 's' sound is essential; don't add the 'h'.
Using it to mean 'fashionably cool'. → 酷 (kù)
'凉飕飕' only refers to temperature or eerie feelings, not social coolness.

Tips

The 'DE' Particle

Don't forget the '的' at the end when using it as a predicate. '风凉飕飕' sounds incomplete compared to '风凉飕飕的'.

Tone Accuracy

Keep the 'sōu sōu' syllables high and level. If you drop the tone, it won't sound like the wind!

Emotional Nuance

Use it to describe your feelings when a friend is being cold to you. It adds a layer of 'sadness' to the 'coldness'.

Vivid Descriptions

In stories, use it to describe the back of the neck or the spine to indicate fear without using the word '害怕' (scared).

ABB Family

Learn it alongside '暖洋洋' (warm) and '绿油油' (green) to master the ABB adjective structure.

Sound Mimicry

Remember that 'sōu' mimics the sound of wind. This will help you recognize it in fast speech.

Natural Flow

Try saying '心里凉飕飕' when you see something shocking or disappointing. It sounds very native.

Literary Context

When you see it in a book, look for surrounding words like '风' (wind) or '鬼' (ghost) to confirm the meaning.

Don't Overthink

It's just a more 'fancy' and 'sensory' way of saying chilly. Don't be afraid to use it!

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'Liang' (Cool) and 'Sou' (the sound of air escaping a balloon: sssssou!). If a room is 'Liang-Sou-Sou', it's so cool you can hear the wind whistling through.

Visual Association

Imagine a person standing in a drafty hallway with their hair slightly blowing and their arms hugged tight around their chest.

Word Web

Wind Autumn Draft Creepy Shiver Unpleasant Reduplication Sensation

Challenge

Try to describe the feeling of walking into a supermarket's freezer section using '凉飕飕' in a sentence.

Word Origin

The word is a combination of the adjective '凉' (cool) and the reduplicated onomatopoeia '飕飕' (sōu sōu). '飕' first appeared in ancient texts to describe the sound of a strong wind.

Original meaning: Originally used to describe the whistling sound of wind through trees or buildings.

Sino-Tibetan, Sinitic.

Cultural Context

No major sensitivities, but be careful not to use it when someone is trying to be 'cool' in a fashionable sense (that's '酷' kù).

English speakers often use 'chilly' for both weather and social situations, making this word a very natural transition.

Used frequently in ghost stories like 'Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio' (Liaozhai Zhiyi). Common in modern Mandopop lyrics to describe heartbreak. Found in Lu Xun's descriptions of old, decaying houses.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Weather

凉飕飕的风
凉飕飕的早晨
天气凉飕飕
凉飕飕的秋雨

Interior Environment

屋里凉飕飕
空调凉飕飕
穿堂风凉飕飕
地板凉飕飕

Physical Sensation

后背凉飕飕
脖子凉飕飕
浑身凉飕飕
手脚凉飕飕

Emotional State

心里凉飕飕
感到凉飕飕
语气凉飕飕
眼神凉飕飕

Atmosphere/Spookiness

气氛凉飕飕
凉飕飕的感觉
凉飕飕的笑声
凉飕飕的静寂

Conversation Starters

"你觉得今天外面是不是凉飕飕的？"

"这间屋子怎么总让人觉得凉飕飕的？"

"你有没有过那种后背凉飕飕的感觉？"

"空调开这么大，你不觉得凉飕飕吗？"

"听完那个故事，你心里是不是凉飕飕的？"

Journal Prompts

描述一个让你感到心里凉飕飕的瞬间。

写一写秋天第一天那种凉飕飕的感觉。

如果你走进一间凉飕飕的老房子，你会看到什么？

比较‘凉快’和‘凉飕飕’在你生活中的不同场景。

描述一次你在凉飕飕的寒风中行走的经历。

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

Usually no. For a cold drink, you would use '冰凉' (bīngliáng) or '冰' (bīng). '凉飕飕' is reserved for air, drafts, or internal feelings.

Not always 'bad', but almost always 'uncomfortable'. It implies a chill that you didn't necessarily want, unlike '凉快' which you seek out in summer.

It means to feel a chill in one's heart, usually due to fear, disappointment, or a sudden realization of something unpleasant.

It has the '风' (wind) radical on the left and '叟' on the right. It's a bit complex, so practice the stroke order!

It's grammatically okay but sounds redundant to native speakers. It's better to just say '凉飕飕的'.

It's used all over China, though the 'feeling' it describes might differ based on local humidity and climate.

You can say someone's '语气' (tone) or '眼神' (gaze) is 凉飕飕, meaning they are being cold or unfriendly.

The positive version is '凉快' (liángkuai) or '凉爽' (liángshuǎng).

No, for 'freezing' use '冰冻' (bīngdòng) or '极冷' (jílěng). 凉飕飕 is for a 'mild but biting' chill.

The ABB pattern is a morphological feature of Chinese to increase descriptive vividness, making the adjective more 'colorful' and sensory.